Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SNIG, v.3, n.3 Also snigg, sneeg, sneg(g), and freq. forms sneeger, snigger (Sh. 1881 Williamson MSS.). [snɪg, snig]
I. v. 1. Of a horse: to neigh, to whinny (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 206, 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.). Derivs. snigger, snegger (Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 121, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1971), sneggin, sniggin, (Jak.), snegram (Sh. 1962), sniggum (Sh. 1889 Chambers's Jnl. (26 Oct.) 675), a sea-taboo name for a horse. Cf. nechram s.v. Nicher.Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 204:
A horse sneggs when he greets a friend.
2. To giggle, to simper, to sneer (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1971). Also sneeger (Sh., Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1930 Sh. Almanac 193, Sh. 1971).
II. n. A neigh, a whinny (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 164, Sh. 1971).
[Cf. Icel. hneggja, O.N., Norw. dial. gneggja, Sh. Norn negg, to neigh, with s prothetic or developed from h. Sense I. 2. is no doubt conflated with Eng. snigger.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Snig v.3, n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snig_v3_n3>
